
Defender John Terry predicted on Friday that England would be knocked out of the World Cup by Ecuador unless they improved on their group stage performances. England face the South Americans in Sunday8217;s second round after laboured wins over Paraguay and Trinidad 038; Tobago and a 2-2 draw with Sweden in Group B.
8220;It8217;s cut-throat now and we8217;re excited by the fact that we need to up our game and start improving,8221; Terry told a news conference. 8220;If we don8217;t, we8217;re on a plane home. We8217;re aware we8217;re not firing on all cylinders at the moment.
8220;But as players we8217;re encouraged by the fact that we8217;re not playing very well but we8217;re still getting results and still top of the group. Things can only get better for us.8221;If I was with another team looking at England, knowing there8217;s a lot more to come from players individually and as a team collectively, I8217;d be quite worried.8221;
Against an Ecuador team who impressed many with their wins over Poland and Costa Rica, before a re-shuffled side lost 3-0 to Germany, Terry said it was important England stamped their authority early.8221;We8217;re certainly looking to take games to the opposition right from the off, to really get at them and get in their faces, which is what the Premiership8217;s all about and what we8217;re all used to,8221; he said.
England did not succeed in that against the Swedes, losing their 1-0 lead in the second half and then being pegged backed a second time.
8211;Trevor Huggins